The National Novena to Our Lady of Knock offers nine days of reflection and prayer and a chance to reconnect with your faith in a sacred space.

The programme for this year includes a wonderful line-up of guest speakers and workshops to help enrich and enliven faith. The theme is ‘Living Life to the Full’ and as the title suggests, there will be a strong focus on appreciating the gift of life and finding beauty in the everyday.

Novena Speakers

The Novena will open on Monday 14th August with Dr Mary Healy, international speaker on scripture and healing, followed by Redemptorists Fr Seamus Enright and Fr Michael Cusack on Tuesday 15th.

Marty Morrissey will make his debut public appearance at Knock on Wednesday 16th August when he will speak during the 3pm and 8.30pm ceremonies. Although best known for his career as a sports commentator and TV personality on RTE, Marty Morrissey is also known for his great sense of humour and infectious upbeat personality. Sport will be the topic du jour as workshops will be delivered by R Kevin O’Gorman, author of ‘Saving Sport: Sport, Society and Spirituality’.

There will be a local flavour on Thursday 17th with Knock native Bernadette McNeive and professional motivational speaker Darren Cawley who will both deliver moving accounts of their own personal stories of organ donation.

To mark 500 years of the Reformation, Rt. Revd. Patrick Rooke (Bishop of Tuam, Killala & Achonry Diocese-Church of Ireland) will be welcomed for the ceremonies on Friday 18th and joined by Dr Salvador Ryan, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth who will conduct workshops entitled ‘Was the Reformation a great Misunderstanding?’

On Saturday 19th. Most Rev. Philip Boyce, DD, retired bishop of Raphoe will be welcomed to Knockfor ceremonies and joined by writer and theologian Fr. Daniel O’Leary to facilitate workshops.

Most Rev. Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin, will speak during the ceremonies on Sunday 20th. August and workshops will be facilitated by Dr. Aoife McGrath, lecturer in Pastoral Theology and Parish Placement Coordinator at the Pontifical University, Maynooth.

Fr. Richard Gibbons P.P. Rector of Knock Shrine is looking forward to hosting the annual novena which continues to be the biggest event in the Shrine’s annual calendar.

Anniversary of the Knock Apparition Monday 21t August

Witnesses’ Walk

A special walk will take place to give recognition to all of the people, who witnessed the Apparition at Knock on the 21st August, 1879. The walk will follow a short route around the village and Shrine grounds, pausing at key points. It will begin at 7pm outside the Chapel of Reconciliation and end with a minute silence and prayers in the Apparition Chapel at 8pm prior to the Novena evening ceremony.

World Meeting of Families 2018

One of the main highlights or the Novena will take place on Monday 21st August with the launch of the World Meeting of Families 2018 programme ‘Amoris: Let’s talk Family, Let’s be Family!’ Families representing each diocese will travel to Knock or this special day. A newly commissioned Icon of the Holy Family will be unveiled and anointed in the Basilica following which, the Icon will travel to each diocese around the country as part of the celebrations.

Very Rev Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin will highlight family life with ‘When Plates Fly! Pope Francis on the joys and challenges of family life’ and workshops will be facilitated by Fr Timothy Bartlett on how to make technology more family friendly.

The Novena will come to a close on Tuesday 22nd August with Maria Steen, spokesperson for the Iona Institute at the ceremonies and workshops with Cora Sherlock, Deputy Chairperson of the Pro Life Campaign.

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